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Today (June 9), Troy Ave was indicted on sealed charges related to his involvement in a fatal shooting at Irving Plaza in New York City on May 25. The Brooklyn rapper, who recuperating from a gunshot wound he received during the incident, was not present in court. 

Nevertheless, the defense is maintaining that Troy Ave was the victim.

Reports the New York Post:

Troy Ave — whose real name is Roland Collins — did not appear in court.

“I’m filing a certificate of affirmative grand jury action,” stated ADA Chistine Keenan.

Collins was arrested on attempted murder and weapons possession raps. The charges for which he’s indicted are still sealed.

Defense lawyers for the rapper said that their client was establishing a $10,000 sports scholarship at New Utrecht High School in honor of his best friend, Ronald McPhatter, 30, who was killed during the shootout.

Collins and McPhatter both attended the Brooklyn school where McPhatter excelled as an athlete, according to defense lawyer John Stella. A check is expected to be presented Monday to the school’s coaches, the lawyer said.

Another attorney for the rapper, Scott Leemon, urged anyone with information about the crime to email Troyaveinfo@Leemonlaw.com.

“We know people don’t want to cooperate with police, so we’re asking them to cooperate with us,” the lawyer said. “He (Collins) didn’t shoot McPhatter, he didn’t shoot himself. They are both victims.”

Surveillance footage showed Troy Ave firing shots in Irving Plaza’s VIP area while a gun allegedly found in the van that took him to the hospital has been tied to the shooting.

According to the NY Post, “Collins allegedly fired off rounds after getting into a dispute with a rap critic who wrote a negative review about him.”

The critic in question is rumored to be podcaster Taxstone aka Daryl Campbell.

For now, Troy Ave is being held without bond and he is due back in court on June 22.

Photo: NYPD